Happy New Year and wel-

come to the latest edition of the Glen Lakes Lantern! Our neigh-borhood is a great place to live and the HOA Board wants to keep everyone up-to-date about events happening in our com-munity. There were a number of

community projects completed in 2011 and we have some ex-citing upcoming plans. Finan-cially, our community is stable and we have been able to avoid ay increases in HOA dues now for four years. We have been able to continue to put money into our reserve fund to help reduce the fiscal impact of fu-ture large capital outlay projects that will likely be necessary over in the next decade such as re-paving, dredging the lakes, etc. Through conservative fiscal

management, the Board was able to complete all of our planned projects and end the year $5,261 under budget. In fact, we were able to reduce our 2011 operating expenses by $3,279 compared to the previ-ous year. We continue to aggressively

pursue homeowners who are delinquent on their dues and we have filed multiple liens for those who do not fulfill their commitments. We were suc-cessful at recovering overdue fees from several properties in 2011. The gates are working! This

was our largest and most suc-cessful project of 2011. After several years of sporadic ser-vice, both gate systems have

been consistently operational for several months. We also completed several

other smaller projects in 2011. There are boulders now placed below the south gates to dis-courage drivers from driving around the gates. All of the fountains are functioning properly—including the one behind the gazebo. Numerous trees were planted around the front lakes to replace those that have been removed. We re-moved the dead trees by the north exit gates and we pur-chased and installed the holiday decorations. The new Yard of the Program was launched and several homes were recognized. We installed the newsletter mailbox by the entryway and we launched the quarterly newslet-ter. We’ve also added some signage to the community and we’ve worked hard to increase parking compliance. There are some opportuni-

ties for improvement and the Board is looking to address these in 2012. Updates to the HOA website have been de-layed and we are taking correc-tive action. Our webpage is (http://glenlakeshoa.org), If you have something you would like to share, please send it to us. You can do this through the website or you can contact one of the HOA Board members. You can also contact our associ-ation property management company, Keith Collins Compa-ny, by phone at 901-753-4170 or through their website at: www.keithcollinsco.com

A Review of 2011 and a Look Towards the Future

Winter 2012 Volume 2, Issue 1

THE GLEN LAKES LANTERN Newsletter for the Glen Lakes Home Owner’s Association

Inside This Issue:

A Review of 2011 and a Look To-

wards the Future

1

What is a Homeowner’s Association?

2

The 2012 HOA Board

2

Clean-up of the Common Areas

3

Should Glen Lake Residents Be Concerned About Annexation?

3

Up-coming Community-wide Yard Sale, May 19-20

3

Trash Can Reminder

4

Fishing at Glen

Lakes

4

Parking Rules to

be Enforced 2

Yard of the Month Resumes

Soon

4

Neighborhood

Watch Forming 3

2012 Plans There are several activities

planned for this year. The Board has been pursuing bids to install a community sign at the entrance of the community. Our goal is to cre-ate a sign that reflects the upscale nature of our neighborhood. We’re are also considering the possibility of remodeling the south gates to more closely match the main en-trance gates. We plan to repaint

the gates too. The Board has received a quote

from MLG&W to install three new street lights in Phase III and we plan to have these installed sometime this year. There are a few dead trees along the north lake and we’ll be replacing these in the next few weeks. The Board is also consider-ing adding a fountain to aerate the northernmost lake. We are not yet clear on the feasibility of this project since we’ll need to run electricity

lines. The Board is committed to

working to maintain the value of our community. One of the chief re-sponsibilities of the Board is to en-force the bylaws and covenants of the community. With this in mind, the Board will be enforcing parking violations, addressing trash cans that are visible from the street, sending letters about compromised land-scaping, and aggressively pursuing compliance with delinquent ac-counts. The Board will also be monitoring Architectural Control matters. We’ll be scheduling some community workdays—get in-volved.! Please help make the com-munity better by making sure you are in compliance with the policies

that we all adopted.

A homeowner association, or HOA,

is a corporation formed by a real estate developer for the purpose of marketing, managing, and selling of homes and lots in a residential subdivision. It grants the developer privileged voting rights in governing the association, while allowing the developer to exit financial and legal responsibility of the organization, typical-ly by transferring ownership of the asso-ciation to the homeowners after selling off a predetermined number of lots. The Glen Lakes HOA is freestanding

and is not controlled in any way by any developer. The homeowners in the community own and control the HOA. The HOA has a set of Covenants and Bylaws that were developed by and ap-proved by the homeowners. Every per-son who buys a property in this commu-nity agrees to comply by the conditions

and provisions laid out in the covenants and bylaws. A homeowner chooses to live under an HOA by the very fact they chose to purchase property in a neigh-borhood governed by an HOA. Membership in the Glen Lakes HOA

is automatic for legal owners of proper-ty within the community. We have 208 lots that compromise our membership rolls. The Glen Lakes HOA Board is comprised of individuals who must be property owners in Glen Lakes, must be a resident of said property, and are elected annually by the membership. The Board is tasked with managing the affairs of the Glen Lakes HOA according to the voted on and approved Cove-nants and Bylaws filed with the Shelby County Government. See the Cove-nants and Bylaws at:

http://glenlakeshoa.org/

Our neighborhood has many fea-tures that make our homes more attrac-tive. One of the most simple to main-tain, but the easiest to forget, are our mailboxes. Every home in the neighbor-hood has matching mail boxes. Take a moment to assess your mail box. Is it rusted? Does it need paint? Are the numbers worn? Is it functioning proper-ly? Please help us maintain the image of

our community.

The 2012 board includes:

• Wayne Pitts (President)

• Rob Ahokas (VP)

• Johnna Field (Treasurer)

• Don Kesner (Treasurer)

• Daniel Bice (Treasurer)

• Kimberly Baird (Secretary)

• Marc Holder (At-large)

Each year the homeowners elect a new Board to represent the interests of the community. Serving on the Board requires a tremendous investment of time and energy. The Board holds monthly meetings to review budgets and discuss new busi-ness It’s important to know who your Board members are and to communicate your con-cerns with them.

What is a Homeowners Association?

The 2012 HOA Board

Page 2 THE GLEN LAKES LANTERN

vehicles within our neighbor-hood. Homeowners are ex-pected to park vehicles either in their own garage, in their own driveway, or in one of the two parking lots provided on Talisker Drive. All vehicles in the parking

lots on Talisker must be regis-tered, operable passenger vehi-cles. Utility trailers, lowboys, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, campers, fire trucks,

One of the challenges our

neighborhood has is the avail-ability of parking. Our streets are narrow and many homes have very short driveways. In light of this, local law enforce-ment, and medical and fire agencies have asked that we keep our streets and access alleys as free from parked vehi-cles as possible. In case of an emergency, they will need un-hindered access to move their

dump trucks, tractors, boats, boat trailers, farm and com-mercial vehicles are expressly not allowed. Long-term park-ing is not allowed in the over-flow parking lots on Talisker and vehicles should not exceed more than four (4) consecutive days in either parking lot. Trailers of any kind are NOT ALLOWED to park on the streets or in the overflow lots. Utility trailers and lowboys

Parking Rules to Be Enforced

must be parked inside garages. Service alleys are also consid-ered streets – please don’t park here either. A more detailed explanation can be found in the CC&R’s posted on our website. Failure to comply with these guidelines not only irritates and endan-gers your neighbors, but also risks fines and towing charges.

Be a good neighbor and park where you

are supposed to!

Mail Boxes Need Attention Too

The Glen Lakes Neigh-borhood has a lot of common area to maintain. When you’re out walking the neighborhood, carry a bag and pick up any litter you see. One person can make a huge difference in just a few minutes. Dozens of people on the lookout for trash would help make out neighbor-hood flawless. Everyone can help!

Common Areas As you mow and prepare

your own landscaping, please be mindful not to discard this debris in the empty lots, storm drains, or lakes. These areas

are our responsibility to main-tain. If you throw trash in the-se areas, one of your neighbors will likely have to go behind you and clean it up.

Pet Owners, Please! Please clean up after your

pets and do not allow them to use the bathroom in the vacant lots. These unexpected little surprises make mowing extra challenging. Remember, we all live here and we all deserve to have a community we are proud of. Please me mindful of others. Clean up after your pets!

There is interest in starting a Glen Lakes Community Neigh-borhood Watch Program. We need everyone to get involved. Please call the management company to find out additional de-tails about upcoming activities. You can also post a message to the HOA website. Board member Kimberly Baird will be help-ing to coordinate this activity. Let’s all help to make our com-munity safe. Call KCC at 901-753-4170 or go to h�p://

glenlakeshoa.org/.

Start cleaning out that garage and attic. We’re planning the next community-

wide yard sale weekend on May 19-20. Because the gates are now closed on the weekends, some neighbors have been unable to have garage and yard sales to get rid of their accumulated stuff. In response, the Board has designated a special event for those who want to make sure potential customers can come in and shop. The Board has decided to have two weekends a year for neighborhood wide sales. These will occur during the third weekend in May and the second weekend in September. In 2012, these will be May 19-20 and September 8-9. Start planning your next sale today! Expect extra traffic in the neighborhood on these days and as always, be extra

vigilant with unknown visitors. Also, homeowners will be responsible for ensur-ing that visitors to the yard sale park responsibly. Do not block the streets.

Common Areas—Everyone Can Help!

Up-coming Community-Wide Yard Sale, May 19-20

Recently, Sate Senator Mark Norris, R-Collierville and Representative Curry Todd, R-Collierville jointly filed a bill that would essentially prevent the City of Mem-phis from being able to annex a portion of eastern Shelby County. Norris then filed a second bill with Representative Ron Lollar, R-Bartlett that would require any area of Shelby County being considered for annex-ation by the city to be allowed to vote on the matter. In response to these two bills, the City of Memphis called an emergency City Council meeting and approved a plan to annex a significant chunk of territory in eastern Shelby County. It is difficult to summarize the motives of

each side of the annexation issue concisely. Many residents of Fisherville, the communi-ty that Norris and Todd were concerned about in their original bill, do not want to

Page 3 Volume 2, Issue 1

Should Glen Lakes Residents Be Concerned about Annexation?

be annexed by the City of Memphis. The City of Memphis wanted to block the legislation and keep their annexa-tion options open to all areas in Shelby County. There are concerns about whether Memphis has the money and administrative infrastructure to manage the possible annexation. The original state legislation regarding the Fisherville area would not immediately affect Glen Lakes but the proposal approved by the Memphis City Council would affect our neighborhood. It is important to note however, the matter before the City Council would still require at least three more votes before any annexa-tion could move forward. The sponsors of the state bill have

agreed to withdraw their proposed bill and the City of Memphis has tentatively

agreed to put any annexation plans on hold. Essentially, the City does not want to set idly by while the legislature makes decisions in Nashville. Should Glen Lakes homeowners be

concerned? In a word, no. Nothing has changed. Our area has always been an annexation interest for the City of Mem-phis and they have the legal upper hand and precedence on their side. Glen Lakes is in an unincorporated area of Shelby County and we are no more or less vul-nerable because of recent maneuverings than we were before Norris and Todd filed their bill. The City Council plans to take up its

second reading on February 14 and the third is tentatively scheduled for either February 15 or 21.

Neighborhood Watch Forming

REMINDER:

The next community-wide clean-up day will be

April 14, 2012. Bring your gloves and come and

help! We’ll be working from10AM until noon.

Everyone is invited to join in!

3036 Centre Oak Way Germantown, TN 38138

Phone: 901-753-4170 www.keithcollinsco.co

GLEN LAKES HOA

MANAGEMENT COMPANY:

KEITH

COLLINS

COMPANY

month. There are several things you

can do to ensure that your yard is looking sharp. Keeping the grass mowed and the shrubbery trimmed is important but you should also attend to weeding and flower beds. Real flowers are always better than plastic ones! Consider adding potted plants, stonework, and other tasteful accents to enhance your curb appeal. Be careful not to “over do” your yard by mixing

The Glen Lakes HOA Board has created a “Yard of the Month” program to recognize those neighbors who do a great job making our neighborhood more attractive. An ad hoc committee will

review the community beginning in March to identify the best looking yards in the neighbor-hood. Once the Yard of the Month has been decided upon, the winner receives a yard sign to proudly display for the entire

and matching themes, adding too much clutter, or by not removing older decorations. We often tend to err on the side of more is bet-ter. Sometimes, the most impact-ful strategy can be to remove some elements. Finally, make sure your hard-scapes are well-maintained too. Stained drive-ways, broken concrete, and worn fences are less attractive.

Yard of the Month Resumes Soon

Glen Lakes Homeowner’s Association

We’re on the web!

h�p://glenlakeshoa.org/

Fishing at Glen Lakes The fishing at Glen Lakes is fantastic and there are several fish that weigh in the 4– to 6-pound range.

There are some things you should keep in mind should you decide to try your luck. Fishing is allowed for Glen Lakes residents only. Historically, fishing has been catch and release and as a result, there have been some recent over-population concerns. Residents may now keep any fish (except koi) that measures over

14 inches in length. Please limit to two fish per household per year. The five lakes in our neighborhood have both small and large mouth bass, channel and flathead catfish,

and an occasional bluegill. There may be other species as well. Neighborhood anglers have reported fish in

all five lakes and there are some who have caught some bass that probably weighed more than six pounds. Please be respectful of your non-angling neighbors. There is no fishing after dark and no boats of any

kind are allowed on the lakes. Please pick up your trash and feel free to help pick up any other garbage you

see.

Need a gate clicker? We have clickers available in the neighborhood so you don’t have to drive to Germantown. Give KCC

a call! Cost is $40.

Little Glen Lake, the small one behind the gazebo is stocked with koi and goldfish. There are also many small catfish between 6– and 10– inches long. Please feed the fish! They’re mostly dormant during the winter but you will see them coming to the surface in droves during the warmer months. They love the floating pellets available at Tractor Supply and other outlets. They are a lot of

fun to watch.

Trash Can Reminder

Your trash can should not be visible from the street except on the day of pick-up. Trash cans should not be placed curbside before 5Pm on the day before pickup and they should be promptly stored following pickup. Trash cans should never be stored in plain view of the street. Fines will be enforced at a cost of $25 per occur-rence. Talk to your non-compliant neighbors and let them know that their negli-

gence is a detriment to your property. Help us keep the neighborhood looking nice.

Do you have home repairs or renovations that need doing, but just don't have time? Jon Beardon, Unique Innovations is a very af-fordable handyman that does quality work. Call

(901) 834-9100. Do you need tree trim-ming, tree service, or tree removal, call Eber Lobos at Green Landscaping at

(901) 603-9595.

Download a copy of the HOA Handbook and the complete Covenants,

Rules and Regulations on our website at http://

glenlakeshoa.org/